3 Tips to Improve Workplace Accessibility

Workplace accessibility ensures everyone feels comfortable coming on-site and collaborating. At Sociability, we know the importance of in-person collaboration for building company culture and aligning on strategy. Every month our team gathers in the office, travelling from as far as 400km away, to brainstorm, debate ideas, and share good food. We make sure this experience is inclusive and accessible for everyone.

That is not always the case at every organisation. Disabled employees are often excluded from core team experiences because they are unsure if the office is actually accessible to them. If you want disabled talent to collaborate in person, you must ensure that coming on-site is easy. Here is how to improve workplace accessibility to support your team effectively.

How to improve workplace accessibility

1. Create an accessible reception

As the first interaction with your workplace, the visitor check-in process sets the tone. An inaccessible check-in process is exclusive from the start. It suggests that you do not value your disabled employees on-site or expect them to be there in the first place.

Let your disabled employees know you want them there by:

• Describing the process in advance: Share a step-by-step guide so everyone knows what to expect. This allows people to ask questions before they arrive.

• Ensuring digital tools are accessible: Check that check-in tablets or screens are voice-activated and screen reader compatible. This is vital to improve workplace accessibility for visually impaired people.

• Creating a welcoming physical experience: Use seated-height reception desks and check-in screens. This ensures wheelchair users are not left talking to a high wall or counter.

2. Share accessibility information upfront

What is the point of commuting to the office if you cannot access the meeting room or enjoy lunchtime chats in the canteen? Access anxiety for disabled employees is a real and frustrating barrier. Sharing detailed accessibility information ahead of time is one of the best ways to improve workplace accessibility.

• This proactive approach helps in several ways:

  • Builds confidence: Knowing information in advance allows disabled visitors to plan their day and avoid last-minute scrambles or access fails at the door.

  • Supports non-disabled staff: It empowers all staff to share accommodation details easily, ensuring visitors know there is an option that works for them.

  • Aids neurodivergent coworkers: Clear information allows neurodivergent staff to get familiar with a space before they arrive. This helps them focus on learning and collaborating rather than navigating an unfamiliar environment.

  
  

Sociability’s Accessibility Management System (AMS) or Sociability's Accessibility Guides, make it easy to share tailored accessibility information with coworkers and visitors. You can create tailored views for different audiences and share links to spaces directly. This helps people to feel confident coming on-site!

Book a discovery call to learn more.

3. Create feedback loops for improving workplace accessibility

Creating an accessible workplace is an ongoing initiative. Open communication helps you consistently improve workplace accessibility based on the lived experience of your disabled employees and colleagues.

To create effective feedback loops, try these strategies:

• Offer varied formats for feedback: Provide several ways for people to share their thoughts. This might include anonymous surveys, 1-to-1 chats, or digital feedback boxes. This ensures everyone can offer their opinion in a way that is comfortable for them.

• Avoid treating coworkers as free consultants: Create opportunities for disabled employees to describe the specific problems they currently face. Do not assume they are experts on every accessibility best practice. Their role is to be your colleague, not your accessibility auditor.

• Clear sign-posting: Ensure everyone in your organisation knows exactly where to go to share their experience. If the feedback route is hidden, it will not be used.

FAQ: Improving Workplace Accessibility

1. Why is workplace accessibility important for hybrid teams?

While hybrid working is popular for its flexibility, the time spent in the office is vital for networking and mentorship. If the office is not accessible, disabled staff miss out on these watercooler moments and career progression opportunities.

2. What are some easy ways to improve workplace accessibility today?

Start by auditing your entrance and common areas. Ensure heavy doors have power-assist buttons and that all signage is high-contrast and easy to read. Small changes like these can make a big immediate difference.

3. How does the Sociability AMS help businesses?

Our Accessibility Management System allows businesses to map their own offices. You can then share that data internally so that every employee knows exactly where the accessible toilets, quiet rooms, and level-access meeting rooms are located.

4. Should accessibility only focus on wheelchair users?

No. To truly improve workplace accessibility, you must consider a wide range of needs. This includes sensory-friendly spaces for neurodivergent staff, braille signage for visually impaired staff, and hearing loops for those who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing.

5. How often should we review our accessibility policy?

You should treat accessibility as a living document. Review it at least once a year or whenever you move offices or undergo a significant renovation. Regular feedback from staff should also trigger reviews of specific areas.

Ready to Make Your Workplace More Accessible?

Hybrid working is popular among disabled talent for a reason. Flexibility is essential to managing care and health. It is not just disabled talent prioritising flexibility either. Research shows that 62% of business leaders work across multiple sites, moving from central offices, to local offices, and back home again.

The fleeting windows of time we spend in the office together are important. These instances are key for connecting with future mentors and aligning on company goals. Disabled people deserve to be included in on-site collaboration and feel confident they can access the space!

Start prioritising workplace accessibility!

• Book a discovery call to see how Sociability can help make collaboration in your office more inclusive!

• Join industry leaders like Arup and Toyota in putting accessibility at the core of your workplace culture.

• Sign up to our free newsletter, packed full of insights and tips for where and how to start your accessibility journey!